News / Regional
Chinese tourist plunges into Victoria Falls Gorge, survives
27 Nov 2013 at 22:40hrs | Views
A CHINESE tourist who fell into a gorge at the Victoria Falls while taking pictures has escaped with only bruises, a Zambian tourism official said.
The tourist, named as Wang Shun Xue (45), plunged into the shallow section of the gorge and survived with "only minor injuries," John Zulu, manager of the National Heritage Conservation Commission in Livingstone, told AFP.
"The depth of the gorge is 25 metres but where he fell from it's about 15 metres because some places there are slopes."
Mr Wang did not plunge into the river after clasping to a tree branch which broke his fall in the incident on Monday. He eventually fell on a rock and sustained bruises on his arm, said Mr Zulu. "He looked shocked because of the accident."
Zambia's Southern Province police chief Charity Katanga said Mr Wang was retrieved around 9.30am with no serious injuries and was taken to his hotel's clinic for a medical check-up.
Zambia's fire brigade, state police and Bundu Adventure, a company which conducts bungee jumping activities at the bridge, were involved in the rescue operation. After a medical check, Mr Wang and his three friends flew out of the country.
The tourist was taking pictures on the Knife-edge Bridge - one of the special vantage points on the Zambian side where visitors can have the finest view of the Eastern Cataract and the Main Falls as well as the Boiling Pot, where the river turns and heads down the Batoka Gorge - when he slipped.
The Victoria Falls, a sheet of falling water, plunges 108 metres at its deepest point.
The tourist, named as Wang Shun Xue (45), plunged into the shallow section of the gorge and survived with "only minor injuries," John Zulu, manager of the National Heritage Conservation Commission in Livingstone, told AFP.
"The depth of the gorge is 25 metres but where he fell from it's about 15 metres because some places there are slopes."
Mr Wang did not plunge into the river after clasping to a tree branch which broke his fall in the incident on Monday. He eventually fell on a rock and sustained bruises on his arm, said Mr Zulu. "He looked shocked because of the accident."
Zambia's Southern Province police chief Charity Katanga said Mr Wang was retrieved around 9.30am with no serious injuries and was taken to his hotel's clinic for a medical check-up.
Zambia's fire brigade, state police and Bundu Adventure, a company which conducts bungee jumping activities at the bridge, were involved in the rescue operation. After a medical check, Mr Wang and his three friends flew out of the country.
The tourist was taking pictures on the Knife-edge Bridge - one of the special vantage points on the Zambian side where visitors can have the finest view of the Eastern Cataract and the Main Falls as well as the Boiling Pot, where the river turns and heads down the Batoka Gorge - when he slipped.
The Victoria Falls, a sheet of falling water, plunges 108 metres at its deepest point.
Source - AFP
